MYSTIQUE
Empowering Femininity Through Photography
Editor’s Letter
Mystique Magazine showcases a collection of photographs that I have captured alongside empowering quotes from the models featured in the photos. I interviewed all the young female models shown, asking them questions about female representation in the media and fashion industries, about female empowerment, and about feminine freedom and objectification. Their inspiring words are placed alongside their own stunning portraits. Mystique Magazine creates a safe space for all women to feel seen, heard, safe, and powerful, by displaying photos that might remind you of yourself or of women you might know in your own life, as well as words about the feminine experience that connect you to women everywhere.
A special thanks to Melissa Holland, Lenora Thomas, Dana Pezzuti, Emily Cooney, and Julia Kwiatek for being my gorgeous and open-minded models, as well as to my professors, Krista Svalbonas, Rachael Sullivan, Steve Rossi, and Bill Wolff, for all of their support, guidance, and feedback. I would also like to thank my parents, Beth and Micahel Jansen, for their constant love and support throughout my life, I could not have done this without you. Lastly, I would like to extend a particular thank you to you, for taking the time to read what these lovely women have to say about femininity, female representation, and female empowerment while viewing my exceptional photographs.
- Paige Jansen
Melissa
“Women are usually sexualized on social media or they’re seen as prudes. Women have often been restricted to these two images so most things they post or see themselves in are very harmful images.”
“In film, TV, and movies, women have a little more of a spectrum but usually they’re nerdy girls, rebellious girls who are sexualized or seen as rough and mean, or they’re mothers and modest.
Usually in fashion, fashion magazines, and fashion photography I think there is an element of sexualization that comes with the sexiness of the trends and the emphasis on their bodies.”
Melissa
“Women are represented on social media in many different ways. I feel that in some cases women can be represented in a fake manner, as photoshop has become so prevalent and society’s body image is not achievable. In another light, women can be represented in a positive way, as people are free to create and be themselves on social media.
Women are represented differently in the television, movie, and film industries, as there are many different concepts or roles women play. I feel that sometimes they can be demeaning and other times they can be inspiring.”
“The male or sexual gaze is very prevalent in our society. I feel that there is always the possibility that people portray images differently than their actual intent, which leaves leeway for a sort of objectification.”
“Seeing female empowerment photos I am usually excited and feel validated that I am a part of this community. It can feel isolating because I know I will never be show-stoppingly beautiful like most models are but remembering that these women get sexualized for doing something they love reminds me that their bodies and the way they look is not their fault and they can be who they want just like I can.”
- Melissa“I think women are mostly represented in fashion magazines and photography as strong and empowering, as I think a lot of the time it allows them to express themselves in a more confident way. However, I think there are instances where women can be objectified in fashion photography if the photographer doesn’t have the right intentions.
I think when the women are representing themselves on social media, there is a sort of beauty and power to that. However, a lot of the times when there are posts about women instead of from
women, it can be depicted in a more inappropriate manner, such as comments from men or others about the way a woman is dressed, or the way she is expressing herself.”
Dana
Dana
“I feel like women are often presented in a one-dimensional scope across corporate social media accounts. However, a growing population of social media influencers, seem to be portraying the multifaceted truth of women and their experiences.
The modern typecasting removes the depth of a character and polarizes her into an obstinate heroine whose bullheadedness leads audiences to abhor her rather than relate to her. Finding a happy medium in accurately portraying the multifaceted human experience is necessary for major crowd relation to media.”
Lenora
“When women are represented in fashion, fashion magazines, and fashion photography, I feel that women become canvases or works of art themselves. Their complementary lines, angles, and organic shapes are captured on film and displayed for the masses. The one thing to fix is the variance in the models used. There is a reason we revere statues of the varying female form. Each one is a unique canvas who simply needs an observer to view the innate art the form displays.”
- Lenora
“I think clothes and the way some photos are taken sexualize or objectify women. There’s an emphasis on model’s bodies and the sizes, shapes, and there’s this need for them to be pretty or beautiful because people won’t look at them if they don’t find themselves attracted to them.
I don’t think showing skin is an agreement to be objectified or sexualized because showing skin is not always a suggestion of something. People show skin because of comfortability, maybe by accident, or simply because they want to. Skin is simply the organ holding your body together and is something literally everyone has.”
- Melissa
“Showing skin is not an agreement to be objectified or sexualized depending on the content being shown. I think there is a very distinct difference between photos created for sexual gaze versus those portraying a specific image or composition.”- Julia
“If the model is comfortable showing skin and wants to express themselves that way, there is no need for small-minded people to assume it is okay to inappropriately objectify or sexualize the model in any way.”
I don’t think there should be a problem with models showing different levels of skin as long as they are comfortable doing so. Showing skin in art can be a very expressive, artistic way of communicating something through an image.”
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Dana
